[thirst4justice]

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[thirst4justice]

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[thirst4justice]

GOTHAM GAZETTE EXCLUSIVE “SPOILER STRIKES AGAIN: CHAOS IN PURPLE” Last night Gotham’s own purple-clad vigilante, Spoiler, was spotted chasing down a pair of muggers through Burnley. Witnesses report she yelled something about “this is what happens when you skip leg day” while vaulting over a dumpster. Sources close to the scene say she may also have thrown a handful of glitter at one of the criminals, though the GCPD refuses to confirm. Spoiler declined to comment when asked if she keeps glitter bombs in her utility belt, but did shout “you’ll never prove it!” before grappling out of sight. Gotham remains, as ever, confused but grateful.

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[jp-todd-rp]

“Sun, sand and salty air are good for the soul—and no, brooding in your apartment with the curtains drawn does not count as a vacation. I already packed your stuff. Swim trunks, snacks, SPF 100, a trashy crime novel you’ll pretend not to like and yes, I am making you carry the cooler.” <3

summer/vacation starter call by @thirst4justice

Stephanie was a whirlwind of energy as she burst into his mind, accompanied by half-thought out plans, bags and a bright purple cooler, and Jason found himself with a bag being thrown on to his shoulder and with said cooler already pressed into his hands.

''... wait, SPF 100 exists?!''

And he could have protested more. At all. But Stephanie, with her bright eyes and confident smile already had him hooked into following her outside to where a car was waiting. Stephanie made sure to jangle the keys. ''Wait, where are we going? Who else - what? Steph! Hold up, this thing is heavy, what did you pack?!''

[jp-todd-rp]

Jason was still smirking when she settled fully over him and his hands found her hips. For that moment, where they were just holding on to each other and laughing, Jason felt the surge of gratitude and affection fill his chest.

He could have stayed at home.

Brooding.

And missed this.

''Never said I wasn't,'' he argued back, the smile lingering as she leant in for a slow kiss. And the kiss was full of the promise of her words. Jason's grip on her hips held firm, his hands finding her skin easily, hungrily, and he ground up into her. ''Sweetheart, if we keep going like this, we won't be able to make it to the beach,'' Jason warned, mouthing along her jawline. ''There are hotels we can go to...'' But not yet, not yet, not with her so deliciously pressing down on him, pinning him down in the seat -

Jason's hands slipped higher, finding the much easier material of her bikini to slip his fingers underneath as he surged up to kiss her, open-mouthed, with tongue. Hungry for her.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie’s laugh hitched into a gasp when he ground up into her, her fingers curling tight in his hair as if that could anchor her against the heat rushing through her body.

“Hotels, huh?” she managed, breathless against his mouth, her lips brushing his when she grinned. “What, you think I can’t make do with a cramped car seat?” Her grin turned wicked, eyes bright as she kissed him again, open and messy, tongue meeting his with equal hunger.

She rolled her hips down deliberately, just to prove her point, biting back a soft moan at the friction. Her knotted shirt rode higher as his hands found her and she leaned in.

“Or are we saving it for the beach?” she teased. Her hands slid up his chest, curling into his shirt as she rocked against him, deliberately testing the space they didn’t really have.

[thirst4justice]

✱ Do You Really Want to Do This? – Stephanie finds herself fighting someone she doesn’t want to fight—a friend under mind control, a reluctant villain, or someone who used to be on the same side. I mean, it practically writes itself considering the amount of toxins Jason can be infected with on a daily basis that'll make him lose his mind. - @jp-todd-rp

The first swing nearly took her head off.

Stephanie ducked, heart lurching in her chest. Jason’s eyes—normally so sharp and alive behind that helmet—were wild, unfocused. His breath came in ragged snarls as he swung again, gun in one hand, knife in the other, his whole body coiled in aggression.

“Jason!” Steph’s voice cracked as she backflipped onto the ledge, grappling hook already in her palm—not to use on him, but just to keep her distance. “Come on! It’s me!”

He didn’t answer. Didn’t even hesitate. He came at her again.

Her stomach twisted. It wasn’t him—it was whatever crap that gas or dart had pumped into his system. Fear toxin? Venom? Some new cocktail. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t hurt him, couldn’t fight him like he was some random thug. But if she didn’t slow him down, he was going to kill her.

She tossed smoke pellets, darting through the haze, her voice echoing. “Jason! Look at me! It’s Steph, okay? Spoiler! Not an enemy!”

His blade flashed through the smoke, forcing her to parry with her staff. The vibration rattled her arms; he was stronger, angrier, barely himself.

Steph gritted her teeth. Her only chance was to ground him—literally. She waited until his swing overextended, then dove in, slamming an electrified batarang against his armored wrist. Sparks flared but the knife didn't fall from his grip.

“Snap out of it!” she shouted, voice trembling. Her staff jammed against his chestplate, keeping distance. Her heart pounded as Jason’s knife screeched against her staff.

For a split second, her mind spun—Bruce would know how to counter this, how to restrain him without harm and Babs could trace what toxin he’d been hit with and feed her an antidote formula in real time, if Stephanie managed to dodge him for that long.

[jp-todd-rp]

Her voice - he knew it, somewhere deep inside, he knew it - but the haze of the drugs in his veins, twisted it into something mocking, something false. Her face shifted and snarled, screaming at him, promising hurt, pain, death -

The sparks from her batarang still danced faintly on his gauntlet, but he barely registered the pain. He ripped his wrist free with a violent jerk, slashing again - this time low, meant to catch her side if she wasn’t fast enough. His other hand, gun still clenched tight, raised reflexively ready to fire.

Every move was precise, lethal - Red Hood at his deadliest, with all the training he'd been subjected to - but behind those unfocused eyes was a man clawing against the toxin, buried and fighting beneath the rage.

For the smallest fraction of a second, his swing hesitated at the quiver of her voice. Pleading with him. Echoed, distorted, but sharp enough to scratch the surface. Jason's stance faltered, just a beat, just enough to reveal the battle raging inside his own head. And with that hesitation, came the pain.

Burning.

Tearing him apart from the inside, until he screamed, eyes blazing green as he charged to her.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie’s chest tightened at the sound of his scream. It was raw, feral—her grip tightened on her staff as he lunged. Every instinct screamed at her to counter, to hit him, to end the fight before he could tear her apart. But she couldn’t.

“Jason, come on!” she shouted, bracing against the force of his charge, the impact rattling through her bones as her back slammed against the concrete wall.

Her breath caught but she refused to let go—one arm snapping up to shove the gun hand away, the other pressing against his chest. “You know me! Fight it!”

Stephanie gritted her teeth as his weight pressed her into the wall. He was all muscle and fury, striking without rhythm, without the precision that made him so impossible to predict. This was brute force—and brute force, she could work with.

She ducked beneath his next swing, jamming her staff low into the bend of his knee. “Sorry about this,” she muttered through clenched teeth, ducking under his next swipe, she rolled across the dusty floor, grabbing a length of heavy chain left coiled near a pile of cement bags.

If she hesitated, he’d catch her.

Stephanie bolted, leading him past the scaffolding, weaving between crates, letting his rage drive him in a straight, predictable line. And just as he lunged—

She ducked aside. The chain snapped tight, looped and fastened in one clean motion around the thick steel support beam. Jason jerked forward, the chain locking around his chest and arm. He bellowed, thrashing against it, metal groaning but holding.

Panting, Stephanie planted her staff across his chest, pressing him back against the pole. “I’ve got you, Jason. You’re gonna come back.” Even as he strained against the bindings, her free hand brushed his arm.

[jp-todd-rp]

Stuck.

Chained.

Trapped.

But she was safe.

The thought flickered through the rage as Jason struggled against the chains, having them dig into his body. And he struggled and raged, the pain of having the undirected murderous fury burning through his veins as Stephanie held her grip tightly on the staff against his chest.

And she waited.

Waited until her arms shook with exhaustion as Jason raged and fought against the restraints, murder in his gaze.

"I've got you."

And Jason struggled until his legs could no longer carry him. They trembled, his throat raw, as he staggered down, utterly spent. But his eyes had lost the crazed glow. Jason was left panting, sore, and too weak to hold himself up as the horror descended over him. "... Steph?"

He swallowed.

"... what did I do?"

[thirst4justice]

For a long while, Stephanie just stood there, chest heaving, arms trembling with the effort of keeping Jason restrained even after the fight had left his body.

Her lip throbbed, metallic tang of blood in her mouth and her ribs ached where one of his wild swings had connected, still relief poured through her so fast her knees nearly gave out.

“Yeah,” she breathed and the words came with a watery laugh that she quickly bit down on. Her split lip stung when she smiled anyway in the echo of the half-finished construction site. “Yeah, it’s me.” Her staff finally lowered, clattering to the concrete floor.

She crouched down in front of him. He looked wrecked—eyes wild but clearing, sweat slick on his brow, chest heaving.

“You tried to take my head off a couple times,” she admitted, forcing a small, tired grin. “But you didn’t. You held back—somewhere in there, you held back. And then I managed to get Babs’ antidote in you.” She tapped the empty injector clipped to her belt for emphasis.

“So… yeah, whew...” Her bruises were nothing compared to what could’ve happened, compared to the thought of losing him to the toxin. “You feeling good enough to get ice cream?”

[thirst4justice]

✱ Do You Really Want to Do This? – Stephanie finds herself fighting someone she doesn’t want to fight—a friend under mind control, a reluctant villain, or someone who used to be on the same side. I mean, it practically writes itself considering the amount of toxins Jason can be infected with on a daily basis that'll make him lose his mind. - @jp-todd-rp

The first swing nearly took her head off.

Stephanie ducked, heart lurching in her chest. Jason’s eyes—normally so sharp and alive behind that helmet—were wild, unfocused. His breath came in ragged snarls as he swung again, gun in one hand, knife in the other, his whole body coiled in aggression.

“Jason!” Steph’s voice cracked as she backflipped onto the ledge, grappling hook already in her palm—not to use on him, but just to keep her distance. “Come on! It’s me!”

He didn’t answer. Didn’t even hesitate. He came at her again.

Her stomach twisted. It wasn’t him—it was whatever crap that gas or dart had pumped into his system. Fear toxin? Venom? Some new cocktail. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t hurt him, couldn’t fight him like he was some random thug. But if she didn’t slow him down, he was going to kill her.

She tossed smoke pellets, darting through the haze, her voice echoing. “Jason! Look at me! It’s Steph, okay? Spoiler! Not an enemy!”

His blade flashed through the smoke, forcing her to parry with her staff. The vibration rattled her arms; he was stronger, angrier, barely himself.

Steph gritted her teeth. Her only chance was to ground him—literally. She waited until his swing overextended, then dove in, slamming an electrified batarang against his armored wrist. Sparks flared but the knife didn't fall from his grip.

“Snap out of it!” she shouted, voice trembling. Her staff jammed against his chestplate, keeping distance. Her heart pounded as Jason’s knife screeched against her staff.

For a split second, her mind spun—Bruce would know how to counter this, how to restrain him without harm and Babs could trace what toxin he’d been hit with and feed her an antidote formula in real time, if Stephanie managed to dodge him for that long.

[jp-todd-rp]

Her voice - he knew it, somewhere deep inside, he knew it - but the haze of the drugs in his veins, twisted it into something mocking, something false. Her face shifted and snarled, screaming at him, promising hurt, pain, death -

The sparks from her batarang still danced faintly on his gauntlet, but he barely registered the pain. He ripped his wrist free with a violent jerk, slashing again - this time low, meant to catch her side if she wasn’t fast enough. His other hand, gun still clenched tight, raised reflexively ready to fire.

Every move was precise, lethal - Red Hood at his deadliest, with all the training he'd been subjected to - but behind those unfocused eyes was a man clawing against the toxin, buried and fighting beneath the rage.

For the smallest fraction of a second, his swing hesitated at the quiver of her voice. Pleading with him. Echoed, distorted, but sharp enough to scratch the surface. Jason's stance faltered, just a beat, just enough to reveal the battle raging inside his own head. And with that hesitation, came the pain.

Burning.

Tearing him apart from the inside, until he screamed, eyes blazing green as he charged to her.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie’s chest tightened at the sound of his scream. It was raw, feral—her grip tightened on her staff as he lunged. Every instinct screamed at her to counter, to hit him, to end the fight before he could tear her apart. But she couldn’t.

“Jason, come on!” she shouted, bracing against the force of his charge, the impact rattling through her bones as her back slammed against the concrete wall.

Her breath caught but she refused to let go—one arm snapping up to shove the gun hand away, the other pressing against his chest. “You know me! Fight it!”

Stephanie gritted her teeth as his weight pressed her into the wall. He was all muscle and fury, striking without rhythm, without the precision that made him so impossible to predict. This was brute force—and brute force, she could work with.

She ducked beneath his next swing, jamming her staff low into the bend of his knee. “Sorry about this,” she muttered through clenched teeth, ducking under his next swipe, she rolled across the dusty floor, grabbing a length of heavy chain left coiled near a pile of cement bags.

If she hesitated, he’d catch her.

Stephanie bolted, leading him past the scaffolding, weaving between crates, letting his rage drive him in a straight, predictable line. And just as he lunged—

She ducked aside. The chain snapped tight, looped and fastened in one clean motion around the thick steel support beam. Jason jerked forward, the chain locking around his chest and arm. He bellowed, thrashing against it, metal groaning but holding.

Panting, Stephanie planted her staff across his chest, pressing him back against the pole. “I’ve got you, Jason. You’re gonna come back.” Even as he strained against the bindings, her free hand brushed his arm.

[thirst4justice]

Has come home with Steph's favourite take out and a very sheepish expression. "I'm so sorry I wasn't around for your birthday. I was actually meant to be home sooner so I could at least set up your favourite movies and some fake candles before you got back but uhhh guess you beat me here." @arobinwithoutbatman

Stephanie sat cross-legged on the couch, arms folded tight across her chest, her lower lip jutting out in a full pout.

“So you forgot it, huh? Big deal. No worries. It’s only, you know, the most important day of the year.” She folded her arms, pretending to glare, but her eyes were already softening.

“Guess I’ll just have to imagine how amazing it would’ve been while I eat all this takeout by myself.” But then her eyes flicked to the bags in his hands and the smell of her favorite food betrayed her resolve.

“...I'll forgive you since you know the way to my heart, Tim. But you’re on movie-cuddling duty all night and owe me one cheesy rom-com marathon to make up for it.” she teased, her voice edged with mock indignation.

[arobinwithoutbatman]

He'd remembered it but had been stuck on a mission in space that week and hadn't had a moment to even try to call back and at least leave a message. Though, even if he'd actually had the time, he doubted anything would've reached back to Earth anyway. But he could do this.

"One cuddly rom-com marathon coming right up. Just give me a few to set up the fake candles and some incense? I was gonna offer a massage too but I figured I should at least ask about that one." He'll likely fall asleep at some point during one of the movies; a combination of the genre not being a favourite of his and his sleep schedule being absolutely shot after his mission.

But he will make every effort to remain awake as long as possible. A small price to pay for missing his girlfriend's birthday.

Now, he could just explain the circumstances of missing her birthday but somehow, he had a feeling that wouldn't go down well, so he'll take the hit for being forgetful. His attempt to make up for it should get him back in her good books.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie raised an eyebrow, arms crossed but lips twitching with the threat of a smile. “Hmm. A rom-com marathon, fake candles and a massage? You’re know I’m a sucker for all three.”

She moved closer, plucking the bag of takeout from his hand before giving him a light nudge in the chest. “Someone’s really trying hard to get out of the doghouse.”

Settling the bag down on the counter, she leaned up to press a quick kiss to his cheek. “You don’t have to explain, Tim. I know. You’ve got a whole galaxy of stuff on your plate. But you gotta promise not to fall asleep in the first ten minutes of 27 Dresses. I’m serious. If you start snoring, I’m taking embarrassing photos.”

She patted the spot beside her. “Massage is an automatic yes, by the way.”

[thirst4justice]

Has come home with Steph's favourite take out and a very sheepish expression. "I'm so sorry I wasn't around for your birthday. I was actually meant to be home sooner so I could at least set up your favourite movies and some fake candles before you got back but uhhh guess you beat me here." @arobinwithoutbatman

Stephanie sat cross-legged on the couch, arms folded tight across her chest, her lower lip jutting out in a full pout.

“So you forgot it, huh? Big deal. No worries. It’s only, you know, the most important day of the year.” She folded her arms, pretending to glare, but her eyes were already softening.

“Guess I’ll just have to imagine how amazing it would’ve been while I eat all this takeout by myself.” But then her eyes flicked to the bags in his hands and the smell of her favorite food betrayed her resolve.

“...I'll forgive you since you know the way to my heart, Tim. But you’re on movie-cuddling duty all night and owe me one cheesy rom-com marathon to make up for it.” she teased, her voice edged with mock indignation.

[thirst4justice]

✱ Do You Really Want to Do This? – Stephanie finds herself fighting someone she doesn’t want to fight—a friend under mind control, a reluctant villain, or someone who used to be on the same side. I mean, it practically writes itself considering the amount of toxins Jason can be infected with on a daily basis that'll make him lose his mind. - @jp-todd-rp

The first swing nearly took her head off.

Stephanie ducked, heart lurching in her chest. Jason’s eyes—normally so sharp and alive behind that helmet—were wild, unfocused. His breath came in ragged snarls as he swung again, gun in one hand, knife in the other, his whole body coiled in aggression.

“Jason!” Steph’s voice cracked as she backflipped onto the ledge, grappling hook already in her palm—not to use on him, but just to keep her distance. “Come on! It’s me!”

He didn’t answer. Didn’t even hesitate. He came at her again.

Her stomach twisted. It wasn’t him—it was whatever crap that gas or dart had pumped into his system. Fear toxin? Venom? Some new cocktail. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t hurt him, couldn’t fight him like he was some random thug. But if she didn’t slow him down, he was going to kill her.

She tossed smoke pellets, darting through the haze, her voice echoing. “Jason! Look at me! It’s Steph, okay? Spoiler! Not an enemy!”

His blade flashed through the smoke, forcing her to parry with her staff. The vibration rattled her arms; he was stronger, angrier, barely himself.

Steph gritted her teeth. Her only chance was to ground him—literally. She waited until his swing overextended, then dove in, slamming an electrified batarang against his armored wrist. Sparks flared but the knife didn't fall from his grip.

“Snap out of it!” she shouted, voice trembling. Her staff jammed against his chestplate, keeping distance. Her heart pounded as Jason’s knife screeched against her staff.

For a split second, her mind spun—Bruce would know how to counter this, how to restrain him without harm and Babs could trace what toxin he’d been hit with and feed her an antidote formula in real time, if Stephanie managed to dodge him for that long.

[thirst4justice]

best b-day present for stephanie would be:

A fully operational tank

Hello Kitty band-aids

Quality time™ (non-refundable, no take-backs)

A lifetime supply of waffles

A grappling hook upgrade (purple, obviously)

A “World’s Best Vigilante” mug (sorry, Babs)

Voting ended onAug 16, 2025

[thirst4justice]

“Okay, so—public service announcement—today is my day. My birthday. My official ‘everyone be nice to me and buy me cake’ day. I’m accepting gifts in the form of cash, snacks and compliments. Also hugs, but only from people I actually like. Oh, and if anyone says they ‘forgot’? Yeah, you’re on thin ice, buddy. Now—who’s taking me out first?”

[a-bad-case-of-the-stephs]

EVERYONE TELL HER HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOW!!!!

[movalise]

[jp-todd-rp]

“Sun, sand and salty air are good for the soul—and no, brooding in your apartment with the curtains drawn does not count as a vacation. I already packed your stuff. Swim trunks, snacks, SPF 100, a trashy crime novel you’ll pretend not to like and yes, I am making you carry the cooler.” <3

summer/vacation starter call by @thirst4justice

Stephanie was a whirlwind of energy as she burst into his mind, accompanied by half-thought out plans, bags and a bright purple cooler, and Jason found himself with a bag being thrown on to his shoulder and with said cooler already pressed into his hands.

''... wait, SPF 100 exists?!''

And he could have protested more. At all. But Stephanie, with her bright eyes and confident smile already had him hooked into following her outside to where a car was waiting. Stephanie made sure to jangle the keys. ''Wait, where are we going? Who else - what? Steph! Hold up, this thing is heavy, what did you pack?!''

[jp-todd-rp]

And he would have protested more, but she was making a point, damn her. But underneath her teasing, lay the fact that she had wanted to spend the holidays with him. She had wanted -

The car turned into the wrong street, and considering her teasing, Jason's wasn't far behind on the uptake.

''... Steph -''

But the look in her eyes had the heat pooling deep in his gut, remembering and wanting all the same. And with his heart picking up a beat, Jason reached for her. ''Five to ten minutes? I'm insulted, sweetheart... or is that a challenge -'' and with his words, he both pulled her closer to him and he leaned in, his lips finding hers, tasting the sweetness of the gummy bears on her lips.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie gasped against his lips—half scandalized, half grinning—and made a noise that could only be described as indulgently outraged.

Her hand curled into the collar of his shirt, dragging him even closer across the center console with the kind of reckless determination that had defined most of their interactions anyway.

"You're such a jerk," she mumbled into his mouth between kisses, heat curling through her like lightning, "—a smug, ridiculous, way-too-hot-for-his-own-good jerk—"

But her hands were already slipping beneath the hem of his shirt, palms splayed against the solid plane of his chest, and—

"—and I missed you, okay?" she admitted in a sudden, breathless whisper. Just a crack in the teasing. Just a flicker of the truth that sat in her bones like longing.

The summer heat was sweltering in the car now, windows fogging slightly as she kissed him like he owed her every stolen holiday, every ghosted evening, every stupid excuse wrapped in Gotham guilt.

[jp-todd-rp]

She had missed him.

Like he had her. As if he could deny to himself that he hadn't been laying in bed, utterly alone, their night together repeating itself, over and over -

He had missed her laugh. The way she had touched him, looked at him, him, not the Red Hood, not the failure and wayward Robin, but him.

"You know where I live -" Jason breathed against her lips between kisses. "Promise I won't leave the door closed for you if you show up "

Jason longed to touch her, to pull her even closer, but his hand was scrambling, searching, along the lower edge of his seat, trying to find the lever that would recline it. If only to allow her on top of him, closer than she was now.

And there!

Jason tightened his grip around the level and pulled, but movement of the backrest was comically fast. It fell back, and Jason fell with it before he could brace, breaking their kiss without warning.

"... shit, what the -" Jason's voice broke into laughter as he laid back in the cramped space. "Sorry," he snorted, eyes crinkling with laughter. "But this was your idea." Jason pulled Stephanie to his lap with both of his hands, helping her maneuver as best he could with the gear stick and handbrake being frustratingly in the way.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie let out a sharp yelp of surprise as Jason and the seat suddenly dropped with a loud clunk, her hands bracing on either side of his shoulders to keep from fully face-planting onto him.

Her hair fell like a golden curtain around their heads as she blinked down at him, momentarily stunned—

Then burst out laughing.

“God, you're such a disaster,” she wheezed between helpless giggles, burying her face in his neck as her body shook with laughter. “A sexy, absolutely feral disaster who lets his spine get whiplash.”

And despite her teasing, she shifted easily into the space he'd made for her, her thighs straddling his hips, her hands still curled into the fabric of his shirt like she had no plans to let him go now that she had him.

She tilted her head to kiss him again, slower this time, with a languid heat that built deep and steady, grounding and familiar. Her voice dropped to a purr:

“You’re gonna pay for that whiplash kiss interruption, Jason. Starting now.”

[thirst4justice]

"Trust fall!" - @jp-todd-rp ( oh no steph her poor back im so sorry )

Stephanie screams, immediately diving to catch him — “JASON WHAT THE HELL—!”

She barely manages to hold him upright, arms trembling, knees buckling, her spine screaming in betrayal. “Jesus Christ, my vertebrae! I am not structurally sound enough for this!! I do Pilates, not powerlifting!” shoves him upright, hand over her lower back.

“So, do you trust me implicitly now or do I have to catch you again and slip a disc in the process?”

[jp-todd-rp]

“Sun, sand and salty air are good for the soul—and no, brooding in your apartment with the curtains drawn does not count as a vacation. I already packed your stuff. Swim trunks, snacks, SPF 100, a trashy crime novel you’ll pretend not to like and yes, I am making you carry the cooler.” <3

summer/vacation starter call by @thirst4justice

Stephanie was a whirlwind of energy as she burst into his mind, accompanied by half-thought out plans, bags and a bright purple cooler, and Jason found himself with a bag being thrown on to his shoulder and with said cooler already pressed into his hands.

''... wait, SPF 100 exists?!''

And he could have protested more. At all. But Stephanie, with her bright eyes and confident smile already had him hooked into following her outside to where a car was waiting. Stephanie made sure to jangle the keys. ''Wait, where are we going? Who else - what? Steph! Hold up, this thing is heavy, what did you pack?!''

[jp-todd-rp]

And he would have protested more, but she was making a point, damn her. But underneath her teasing, lay the fact that she had wanted to spend the holidays with him. She had wanted -

The car turned into the wrong street, and considering her teasing, Jason's wasn't far behind on the uptake.

''... Steph -''

But the look in her eyes had the heat pooling deep in his gut, remembering and wanting all the same. And with his heart picking up a beat, Jason reached for her. ''Five to ten minutes? I'm insulted, sweetheart... or is that a challenge -'' and with his words, he both pulled her closer to him and he leaned in, his lips finding hers, tasting the sweetness of the gummy bears on her lips.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie gasped against his lips—half scandalized, half grinning—and made a noise that could only be described as indulgently outraged.

Her hand curled into the collar of his shirt, dragging him even closer across the center console with the kind of reckless determination that had defined most of their interactions anyway.

"You're such a jerk," she mumbled into his mouth between kisses, heat curling through her like lightning, "—a smug, ridiculous, way-too-hot-for-his-own-good jerk—"

But her hands were already slipping beneath the hem of his shirt, palms splayed against the solid plane of his chest, and—

"—and I missed you, okay?" she admitted in a sudden, breathless whisper. Just a crack in the teasing. Just a flicker of the truth that sat in her bones like longing.

The summer heat was sweltering in the car now, windows fogging slightly as she kissed him like he owed her every stolen holiday, every ghosted evening, every stupid excuse wrapped in Gotham guilt.

[jp-todd-rp]

“Sun, sand and salty air are good for the soul—and no, brooding in your apartment with the curtains drawn does not count as a vacation. I already packed your stuff. Swim trunks, snacks, SPF 100, a trashy crime novel you’ll pretend not to like and yes, I am making you carry the cooler.” <3

summer/vacation starter call by @thirst4justice

Stephanie was a whirlwind of energy as she burst into his mind, accompanied by half-thought out plans, bags and a bright purple cooler, and Jason found himself with a bag being thrown on to his shoulder and with said cooler already pressed into his hands.

''... wait, SPF 100 exists?!''

And he could have protested more. At all. But Stephanie, with her bright eyes and confident smile already had him hooked into following her outside to where a car was waiting. Stephanie made sure to jangle the keys. ''Wait, where are we going? Who else - what? Steph! Hold up, this thing is heavy, what did you pack?!''

[jp-todd-rp]

Jason was left standing on the sidewalk, bag still tossed over his shoulder, staring, as Stephanie slid behind the wheel.

He could fall in love with this woman.

The realization had Jason drawing in a deep breath, which he masked by pretending at being annoyed by being outsmarted before he moved to the other side of the car and sat down. And pointedly moved his seat all the way back to make room for his legs.

"You're going to regret giving me access to the Bluetooth connection," he grumbled, already pulling out his phone to get the playlist sorted. But he paused when she mentioned -

Jason threw her a glance. "I can take breaks." Sometimes. If he was forced to. Which... was what she was doing now.

Diabolical.

"Alright, alright, fine. Chauffeur me, and let me know when you want the next gummy." And with that, they set off. Away from the oppressing heat of the city and towards the salted breeze and open skies.

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie slid her sunglasses down her nose just enough to shoot him a look from over the rims. The sunlight danced on her blonde hair as it spilled over her shoulders, loose and golden, just like the warm day ahead.

Her knotted t-shirt bared a sliver of her stomach each time she moved to shift gears and her sneakers tapped impatiently on the pedals as they idled at the light.

“You can take breaks, huh?” she echoed, voice lilting with disbelief. “You mean like how you 'took a break' on Halloween? Or Christmas? Or literally every other holiday I spammed you with dog memes and cupcake emojis?”

She glanced at him, one brow arched. “I swear to God, Jason, if you ghost me on Halloween again I will drag you to a haunted hayride dressed as a sexy vampire."

Still, she was smiling—because he was here now. Sitting beside her, kicked back with his legs stretched out, scrolling through music, already reaching for the gummy worms she’d stashed in the cupholder.

Stephanie turned back to the road, her fingers drumming the wheel. “So today? You relax. You swim. You tan that pale cryptid skin. You feed me watermelon. And if I catch you brooding even once...” she trailed off.

And then hit the gas—beach-bound, hearts in tow.

[jp-todd-rp]

"Hey," Jason interjected, gummy bear stuck between his fingers as he pointed to her. "That was me being a mature and self-regulating adult. Thank you very much. Holidays and Gotham do not mix and I was performing my civil duty by seeking out lawbreaking distractions. You should be proud."

And, yeah, honestly, that didn't sound great if he said it like that.

Whatever.

"And I'll keep doing it if it means you'll turn up in a sexy vampire costume, for God's sake, woman. Pick your threats," and yes, perhaps Jason did let his eyes purposely wander as she drove. "And I'm not that pale!"

He was, damn it, but Jason was just being stubborn for the hell of it as he fed her a gummy. "Also. You owe me swimshorts when we get there. You didn't even give me time to pack anything!"

[thirst4justice]

Stephanie chomped down on the gummy bear with exaggerated satisfaction.

"First of all," she said around the chewy mouthful, voice full of saccharine threat, "you are absolutely that pale, Jason. I’ve seen milk cartons with more of a tan. And second—seeking out lawbreaking distractions? You ghosted me for a rogue Santa with a baseball bat. So no, you don’t get points for civil duty when I had eggnog and mistletoe ready."

Her voice lilted between mock-pissed and amused, but she was grinning. "You wanna talk about self-regulating adults? Mister ‘let me punch a clown before breakfast’?"

Then—

She glanced at him again. Noticed the way his gaze lingered on her. Felt the lazy heat of it, a little slow-burn behind her sunglasses.

"Swimshorts? Oh nooo," she drawled, syrupy-sweet and utterly not sorry. "You mean you’ll have to wear whatever I pick for you from the tourist trap beach shack? What a shame."

And just as she said it—

She turned down the wrong street.

"Wait. Oh, crap—" she laughed, tapping the brakes. "That’s—yep. That’s the wrong road. That one leads out to the trailhead, not the beach."

But she didn’t immediately turn around. Just coasted forward a little further, winding deeper into a shadier patch of trees.

Her hand slipped off the wheel just long enough to tug her sunglasses down, peer at him over the edge with a glint in her eye.

"...We could take a break," she teased, letting the car roll to a slow stop under a tree-lined turnoff. "What do you think? Five, ten minutes?"

Stephanie leaned back, cocked her head, her grin utterly feral now. "Think your back can handle the upholstery?"

Because he owed her holidays. She was just collecting early.